Using terahertz imaging to seek quirks in corks at NJIT

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As the holidays approach and you're buying wine, ever wonder what's really in a cork? Ask NJIT's John Federici, who has a new use for Terahertz imaging: searching for divots and cracks in wine corks to insure quality.

Using Federici's laboratory, which is devoted to sub-millimeter or Terahertz waves, the project, in collaboration with Amorim & Irmãos S.A. Portugal, the world's largest natural cork producer, and sponsored by QREN, a Portuguese national program for development and innovation, is focused on detecting defects such as cracks and voids in the cork.

THz-imaging is fast proving itself easier and better to use in non-destructive evaluation of objects because it can easily penetrate through most non-metallic materials and it can achieve better resolution than millimeter wave imaging.

"Terahertz imaging is an up-and-coming technology for quality control inspection of materials and components," Federici said. "THz imaging of corks can be simply viewed as analogous to imaging cavities in a tooth. In the case of cork, variations in the structure of the cork – a cavity – lead to contrast in the THz image."

For example, rather than classifying corks based on how they look on the outside, THz imaging will enable classification of corks based on their internal structure. Another advantage is that Terahertz imaging is safer to use on people and products.

The research interests of Federici, a distinguished professor of physics at NJIT, span Terahertz or sub-millimeter wave imaging, spectroscopy, and sub-millimeter wireless communication to ink-jet printed sensors and devices.

Federici has been the lead writer on upwards of 70 publications in scholarly journals and holds 7 patents. His most recent patents emphasize Terahertz synthetic aperture imaging. Federici and his research team have received a U.S. Patent for a Terahertz imaging system and method. Since 1995, Terahertz imaging has grown in importance as new and sophisticated devices and equipment have empowered scientists to understand its potential.

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NJIT, New Jersey's science and technology university, enrolls more than 8,900 students pursuing bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in 120 programs. The university consists of six colleges: Newark College of Engineering, College of Architecture and Design, College of Science and Liberal Arts, School of Management, College of Computing Sciences and Albert Dorman Honors College. U.S. News & World Report's 2009 Annual Guide to America's Best Colleges ranked NJIT in the top tier of national research universities. NJIT is internationally recognized for being at the edge in knowledge in architecture, applied mathematics, wireless communications and networking, solar physics, advanced engineered particulate materials, nanotechnology, neural engineering and e-learning. Many courses and certificate programs, as well as graduate degrees, are available online through the Office of Continuing Professional Education.

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POSTSCRIPT- Abe on the IV board has reminded me, of the longstanding connection between NJIT and API, as reflected in this news release from 2005.

Advanced Photonix, Inc.(R) Receives Orders for Terahertz Systems from Major Development Labs

CAMARILLO, Calif., Nov 15, 2005 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Advanced Photonix, Inc.(R) (AMEX: API) ("API") announced today that Picometrix LLC ("Picometrix"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of API, has received orders for its T-Ray(TM) 2000 terahertz (THz) system from four major defense and leading university application development labs around the world. The New Jersey Institute of Technology ("NJIT"), the University of Adelaide, a major U.S. defense contractor, and a major foreign national lab have each placed orders for the T-Ray(TM) 2000 terahertz systems, with the combined orders totaling slightly over $1,000,000 to be fulfilled over the next two quarters. The T-Ray(TM) 2000 is capable of both THz spectroscopy and imaging and is used for application development. It was introduced in 2001 as the world's first commercially available THz instrument. Picometrix also offers the QA1000 THz system for on-line process control applications.
NJIT is a major public university with a worldwide reputation in THz development applications, headed by Dr. John Federici. Picometrix has had an on-going technical partnership with the Physics Department at NJIT for the development of THz applications for defense and homeland security markets.
The University of Adelaide located in Adelaide, Australia is a leader in many research and development fields. The THz Group at the University has received a major grant to develop Australia's first THz user facility, and Picometrix is proud to be a strategic supplier of the equipment enabling them to conduct THz development for a variety of applications.
The foreign national lab focuses on applied R&D, ranging from equipment for medical and pharmaceutical diagnostics to non-destructive testing for detecting contraband and security-threats.
Richard (Rick) Kurtz, Chairman of the Board and CEO, said, "These orders build on our existing relationships with various application development laboratories around the world in investigating the possible applications of THz technology. By creating and leveraging these relationships we will help drive the transition of THz application development from the research lab using the T-Ray(TM) 2000 to on-line process control solutions using our QA1000 THz system."
The information contained herein includes forward looking statements that are based on assumptions that management believes to be reasonable but are subject to inherent uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, unforeseen technological obstacles which may prevent or slow the development and/or manufacture of new products; potential problems with the integration of the acquired company and its technology and possible inability to achieve expected synergies; obstacles to successfully combining product offerings and lack of customer acceptance of such offerings; limited (or slower than anticipated) customer acceptance of new products which have been and are being developed by the Company; and a decline in the general demand for optoelectronic products.
Advanced Photonix, Inc.(R) (AMEX: API) is a leading supplier of opto-electronic solutions and THz instrumentation to a global OEM customer base. Products include the patented high-speed optical receivers in APD and PIN configurations and silicon Large Area Avalanche Photodiode (LAAPD), PIN photodiode and FILTRODE(R) detectors. Picometrix is a world-leading supplier of high-speed optical receivers and THz equipment for the scientific, industrial, medical, military, and homeland security markets. More information on Advanced Photonix can be found at http://www.advancedphotonix.com.
SOURCE: Advanced Photonix, Inc.

Advanced Photonix, Inc.
Richard Kurtz, 805/987-0146
 or
Cameron Associates
Richard Moyer, 212/554-5466